Switching your pets to raw food and what to expect

Making the Switch

There are two approaches to switching your pet over to a raw diet: an immediate change, or a gradual one.

Immediate Switch

A rapid switch from kibble to raw. This method requires much less effort on your part, however, there is a chance your pet will get diarrhea or digestive distress due to changing their diet too quickly. A rapid switch is best suited for puppies and young dogs.

Gradual Switch

A lengthier, gradual switch from kibble to raw. The length of time depends on each individual pet. Our pets have sensitive GI tracts, so switching from one kind of food to another may cause minor to severe GI upset. We have to take into consideration that your pet has been eating artificial, highly processed, grain-fed foods for some time. Kibble is harder to digest and the anatomy of the food itself is much different than that of real, fresh, raw food. Most pets on an artificial diet have poorer gut bacteria, suppressed digestive enzymes and even a weakened immune system. They will need time to jump-start their systems again.

By doing a gradual switch, we can be careful not to upset their GI tracts but also learn your pet’s preferences to certain foods, and potentially find out if they have allergies or intolerances. 

With the gradual switch approach, you will be offering both types of foods at the same time. However, each day you will offer less kibble and more raw food. The ratios in which you feed your pet is completely adjustable to what you see fit. Here is a basic guideline:

• Day 1: feed 1/8th of the new food, 7/8th of the old food

• Day 2: feed 1/4th of the new food, 3/4th of the old food

• Day 3: feed 1/2 of the new food, 1/2 of the old food

• Day 4: feed 3/4th of the new food, 1/4th of the old food

• Day 5: feed 7/8th of the new food, 1/8th of the old food

• Day 6: feed 100% of the new food

Please note that you can extend the transition period if you feel it would be easier on your pet and their digestive system.

Have you been told to never combine raw and cooked/processed foods together, and bring yourself to do a gradual mixture? Simply follow the same protocol for amounts, but feed them to your pet separately, rather than mixed together. Both methods are valid and will give you the same result.

Feeding Guidelines

Guidelines for Adults & Pregnant Pets

Your pet’s specific needs will vary based on their age, activity, breed, health, and metabolism.  These factors will determine the type of raw food and the amount you should be feeding them that will maintain their optimal health. The best indication of feeding amount is your pets current body condition.

The recommended feeding guideline is 1-3% of ideal adult body weight per day, based primarily on your pet’s activity level:

• Low to Moderate Activity (1-1.5%)
  For pets who are less active or sedentary most of the time, or have weight issues, we recommend feeding them turkey and/or salmon.

• Moderate to High Activity (2%)
  For pets who are averagely active, 2% is a good percentage to maintain their weight. We recommend feeding them chicken.

• High Activity (3%)
  For pets who are highly active and have a lot of energy, or need to gain weight, we recommend chicken and beef or turkey and beef, as these meats contain higher fat blends.

• Pregnant and Breastfeeding Pets (4-5%)
  For pets who are pregnant and breastfeeding, you can increase their daily food intake up to 4-5% of their ideal adult body weight. You may need to increase or decrease depending on your pet. When the babies are born, keep the mother’s percentage around 4-5% as she will need that extra nutrition and energy to feed her babies. Once offspring are weaned, decrease your pet’s percentage back down to their normal food intake.

Guidelines for Puppies

Feeding puppies raw food will be a seamless transition for both you and puppy. Keep in mind, they will have to eat more than adults to fuel their little growing bodies.

With puppies, if you can predict what their ideal adult body weight will be when they become an adult, you are free to follow the adult feeding guide above. This is easier to figure out if your pet is purebred. Puppies who are mixed breeds can be a little bit more difficult to predict what their ideal adult body weight will be. If you are unsure, you can feed them a certain percentage of their current body weight until they are a certain age. Feel free to follow these guidelines:

• 2-4 months old – feed 8-10% of current body weight

• 4-6 months old – feed 6-8% of current body weight

• 6-8 months old – feed 4-6% of current body weight

• 8-12 months old – feed 3-4% of current body weight

• 12+ months old – feed 2-3% of ideal adult weight

Puppies and small dogs should not eat meat that has ground up bones mixed in the meat as there is a risk they could choke on it. Beef and pork have no ground up bones mixed in the meat.

These are simply just guidelines. Pay close attention to your puppy's build and weight and adjust their portions accordingly.  If your pup is too thin, increase their daily food intake. If your pup is overweight, decrease their daily food intake. Keep in mind that puppies are rapidly growing and while they may look thin and awkward as they grow, it does not mean they are too thin. If you are concerned about your puppies weight, consult your local veterinarian or take a look at this body condition guide.